Dr Monica Gerth is a microbiologist whose research explores the molecular interactions between microbes and plants. She has a particular fascination with microbial chemotaxis (i.e. how microbes use chemical signals to navigate) and the role of chemotaxis in plant diseases. Her research spans both prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes, though since 2015, the major focus of her group has been on the microbe that causes kauri dieback disease (Phytophthora agathidicida)*. She loves reproducible science and strongly believes that collaboration is key to tackling the big issues facing Aotearoa, New Zealand, and the world.

More information on the current projects and people in her research group can be found at: https://molecules-and-microbes.org/
*As a microbiologist, she would always (always) italicise microbial species names. However, the university's profile system does not allow it.